Man charged with arson after New Year’s Eve fire

SANFORD — A 19-year-old Sanford man has been charged with arson in connection with a fire on New Year’s Eve, and an investigation into a possibly related incident is ongoing.

On Jan. 1, Sanford Police learned about a sexual assault which allegedly took place at an underage drinking party on New Year’s Eve. The victim of the alleged assault is a juvenile.

While investigating the sexual assault, police learned of an arson which had occurred in the neighborhood of the underage drinking party and which had not been reported. The fire damaged the exterior of a garage, but it was quickly extinguished by the homeowners and no one was injured, according to Sanford Police Detective Sgt. Matthew Jones.

Investigators from the police and fire departments worked together to investigate the arson, which led to the arrest of Tylor Yeaton, 19, 25 Bates St., Apt. F, in the early morning hours of Jan. 2. Yeaton was found hiding at a friend’s residence. He surrendered to police and was taken into custody without incident.

A 17-year-old who allegedly hosted the drinking party was also taken into custody.

Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, and the number of people involved, police are not yet ready to go into further detail about the arson or the link between the alleged sexual assault and the arson.

Yeaton was charged with arson, a class A felony, and transported to the York County Jail. He is being held on $1,000 bail with conditions.

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